Best Natural Skincare of 2016

As we close out 2016 and head into the New Year, I figure it’s a great time to share my favorite skincare and beauty products from this past year. All these brands use truly natural ingredients, free of synthetic fragrance, parabens, and other synthetic toxins. Many of them contain organic, real-food ingredients, natural botanicals, and/or therapeutic grade essential oils. They have all helped me work towards healthy skin and a glowing complexion, so these are my picks for the best natural skincare products of 2016.

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Best Natural Skincare Products of 2016

 

1. Best Facial Cleanser: Primally Pure Cleansing Oil

I’ve already raved about oil cleansing, due to its ability to thoroughly cleanse and control breakouts without stripping skin of natural moisture. I’m madly in love with both the Oily/Acne Prone and Normal/Combination cleansing oils from Primally Pure. (You can read my original review about cleansing oils here.)

 

2. Best Toner: Primally Pure Everything Spray

The name doesn’t lie. While Everything Spray makes a great toner, it also does so much more! With ingredients like magnesium oil, apple cider vinegar, and numerous essential oils, it has powerful astringent, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties, and can help soothe various skin conditions. I use it as a toner after oil cleansing, and also as a refresher throughout the day (on days when I’m not wearing makeup). This stuff is seriously addicting!

 

3. Best Daytime Moisturizer: Sweetsation Therapy Q Lumiere Bio-Restorative Cucumber Day Creme

This has been my favorite day cream for several years now. Made from natural (and some organic) botanical ingredients and fruit extracts, this antioxidant cream is moisturizing yet light enough to use under makeup during the day.

 

4. Best Nighttime Moisturizer: Molivera Organics Raw African Organic Grade A Ivory Shea Butter

How did I not discover shea butter sooner? Simple shea butter is a dream moisturizer and is used to treat skin conditions of all sorts. It can feel quite greasy once it goes on (it’s an actual fat from the nut of the shea tree) so I prefer to use it at night. You’d think that “greasy” feel would equate to breakouts, but it does just the opposite! It helps clear up my blemishes better than anything else I’ve tried. Just remember, a little goes a long way, and you’ll need to rub it into your hands a bit first to get it to spread properly. Always choose a raw, unrefined, organic, grade A shea butter. I like this one!

 

5. Best Makeup Remover: 100% Pure Organic Flax Seed Cleansing Oil

I love using this product (on cotton pads) to remove my makeup, and I then follow up with my regular oil cleansing routine. My blemish-prone skin is always clear after the fact!

 

6. Best Blemish Spot Treatment: Primal Life Organics Banished™ Blemish Serum

If any of those blemishes sneak through, just a dab of this serum at night will zap those blemishes into oblivion by morning time! It’s even helped me with cystic acne breakouts. PLO uses only the most top-notch, real-food, nourishing ingredients.

 

7. Best Face Mask for Acne: Primal Life Organics Banished™ Face Mask

Like its spot treatment counterpart, this face mask abolishes acne by using real food ingredients. Because includes ingredients like garlic, turmeric, and cumin seed, it took me a minute to get used to the scent. You might smell like a taco for about five minutes (while it dries), but it’s so worth it when the result is clear skin.

 

8. Best Face Exfoliator: Primal Life Organics Dirty Ex™ Sweet Revenge

This sugar-based facial scrub leaves my skin so soft and smooth! It uses “exfoliating crystals combined with sweet almond oil, french green clay, grapefruit peel oil, pineapple, guava and apple extracts to deeply cleanse the skin of bacteria and impurities.” It’s seriously perfection and has replaced all my other face exfoliator scrubs.

 

9. Best Body Scrub: 100% Pure Body Scrub

This moisturizing body scrub was key in helping me get rid of my eczema once and for all. It is made from toxin-free real-food and botanical ingredients. It is naturally-scented, and all the scents I’ve tried smell so delicious!

 

10. Best Body Lotion: 100% Pure Nourishing Body Cream

I searched long and hard for a body lotion to replace the old synthetically-scented brands I used to use. I was so thrilled to discover 100% Pure. Like their body scrubs, these body lotions are made from toxin-free ingredients and are naturally-scented.

 

11. Best Lip Balm: Primally Pure Lip Balm

I can’t get enough of these sweet little lip balms. They are so moisturizing, all while utilizing the safest and simplest ingredients.

 

12. Best Deodorant(s) for Sensitive Skin:

• Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant – Sensitive Skin Formula

• Primally Pure Sensitive Deodorant

• Primal Life Organics Sensitive Stick Up

I’m not really sure if deodorant falls in the “skincare” category, but I’m sharing this priceless info nonetheless. It’s so exciting to find natural deodorant that actually works, especially for those of us with sensitive skin. These are the three brands I use (and love). You can read my full review and get more specifics about natural deodorants for sensitive skin here.

 

I hope you’ll enjoy these natural skincare products as much as I do. My skin has never felt (and looked) healthier since discovering these quality, toxin-free gems. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2017!